Trigger Sprayer With Child Resistant Indexing Nozzle

ABSTRACT

An indexing nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayer has a manually rotatable cap mounted for rotation on a base of the nozzle assembly. Rotation of the cap relative to the base changes the nozzle assembly between an off condition where the nozzle assembly prevents liquid discharge from the trigger sprayer, and a combination of a spray condition, a stream condition, and/or a foam condition. The indexing nozzle assembly is provided with a child resistant feature in the form of a lock mechanism that prevents rotation of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base from the cap off condition position. The lock mechanism can be manually manipulated with one hand to disengage the lock mechanism, thereby permitting rotation of the nozzle cap from its off condition position relative to the base.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No.11/369,351, which was filed on Mar. 7, 2006, and is currently pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a hand-held and hand-operated liquidsprayer typically called a trigger sprayer. In particular, the presentinvention pertains to an indexing nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayerthat has a manually rotatable cap mounted for rotation on a base of thenozzle assembly. Rotation of the cap relative to the base changes thenozzle assembly between an off condition where the nozzle assemblyprevents liquid discharge from the trigger sprayer, and a combination ofa spray condition where the nozzle assembly dispenses liquid in a spraypattern, a stream condition where the nozzle assembly dispenses liquidin a stream pattern, and/or a foam condition where the nozzle assemblydispenses the liquid as a foam. The indexing nozzle assembly is uniquein that it is provided with a child resistant feature in the form of alock mechanism. The lock mechanism prevents rotation of the nozzle caprelative to the nozzle base with the cap in the off condition positionrelative to the base. The lock mechanism includes a finger pad that isaccessible on the trigger sprayer, with the remainder of the lockmechanism being shielded from view. The finger pad is depressed with onehand to disengage the lock mechanism, thereby permitting the rotation ofthe nozzle cap with the other hand from its off condition positionrelative to the base.

2. Description of the Related Art

Handheld and hand pumped liquid dispensers commonly known as triggersprayers are used to dispense many household products and commercialcleaners. Trigger sprayers have been used to dispense household cleaningor cooking liquids and have been designed to selectively dispense theliquids in a spray, stream, or foaming discharge pattern. The triggersprayer is typically connected to a plastic bottle that contains theliquid dispensed by the sprayer.

A typical trigger sprayer includes a sprayer housing that is connectedto the neck of the bottle by either a threaded connection or abayonet-type connection. The sprayer housing is formed with a pumpchamber and a vent chamber, a liquid supply passage that communicatesthe pump chamber with a liquid inlet opening of the sprayer housing, anda liquid discharge passage that communicates the pump chamber with aliquid outlet opening of the sprayer housing. A dip tube is connected tothe sprayer housing liquid inlet opening to communicate the pump chamberwith the liquid contents of the bottle connected to the trigger sprayer.

A pump piston is mounted in the sprayer housing pump chamber forreciprocating movement between charge and discharge positions of thepiston relative to the pump chamber. When the pump piston is moved toits charge position, the piston is retracted out of the pump chamber.This creates a vacuum in the pump chamber that draws liquid from thebottle, through the dip tube and into the pump chamber. When the pumppiston is moved to its discharge position, the piston is moved into thepump chamber. This compresses the fluid in the pump chamber and pumpsthe fluid from the pump chamber, through the liquid discharge passage ofthe sprayer housing and out of the trigger sprayer through the nozzleassembly.

A spring is operatively connected between the pump piston and thesprayer housing. The spring biases the pump piston to the dischargeposition of the piston relative to the sprayer housing.

A vent piston is often provided with the pump piston and is mounted inthe vent chamber. The vent piston moves with the pump piston between avent closed position and a vent opened position in the vent chamber. Inthe vent opened position, the interior volume of the bottle attached tothe trigger sprayer is vented through the vent chamber to the exteriorenvironment of the trigger sprayer. In the vent closed position, theventing path of air through the vent chamber is closed, preventingleakage of liquid in the bottle through the venting flow path should thebottle and trigger sprayer be inverted or positioned on their sides.

A trigger is mounted on the sprayer housing for movement of the triggerrelative to the trigger sprayer. The trigger is operatively connected tothe pump piston to cause the reciprocating movement of the pump pistonin the pump chamber in response to movement of the trigger. A user'shand squeezes the trigger toward the sprayer housing to move the triggerand move the pump piston toward the discharge position of the piston inthe pump chamber. The spring between the pump piston and the sprayerhousing pushes the piston back to the discharge position of the pistonrelative to the pump chamber when the user's squeezing force on thetrigger is released.

Inlet and outlet check valves are assembled into the respective liquidsupply passage and liquid discharge passage of the trigger sprayer. Thecheck valves control the flow of liquid from the bottle interior volumethrough the liquid supply passage and into the pump chamber, and thenfrom the pump chamber and through the liquid discharge passage to thenozzle assembly of the trigger sprayer.

A nozzle assembly is connected to the sprayer housing at the liquidoutlet opening. The nozzle assembly usually includes a base that isassembled to the sprayer housing at the liquid outlet opening, and a capthat is mounted for rotation on the base. The base typically has aliquid swirl chamber and the cap contains the liquid discharge orificeof the nozzle assembly. In trigger sprayers having selectable dischargeconditions for the liquid discharged by the trigger sprayer, the cap isrotatable between an off position where the liquid discharge from thetrigger sprayer is prevented, and the combination of a spray positionwhere the liquid discharge is in a spray pattern, a stream positionwhere the liquid discharge is in a stream pattern, and/or a foamposition where the discharge of liquid is converted to a foam. Dependingon the type of trigger sprayer, the nozzle assembly could be movablebetween any combination of the off, spray, stream, and foam positions.However, most trigger sprayers have a nozzle assembly where the nozzlecap is positioned in an off position to prevent the unintended dischargeof liquid from the trigger sprayer.

Manually oscillating the trigger on the trigger sprayer reciprocates thepump piston in the pump chamber which causes liquid to be drawn from thebottle through the dip tube and past the first check valve to the pumpchamber. The liquid is then pumped from the pump chamber through theliquid discharge passage and past the second check valve to the liquidspinner and the liquid discharge orifice of the nozzle assembly. Byrotating the nozzle assembly cap relative to the nozzle assembly base,the trigger sprayer can be changed between the off condition whereliquid discharge is prevented, to a spray condition where the liquiddischarge is as a spray, to a stream condition where the liquiddischarge is as a stream, and/or to a foam condition where the liquiddischarge is as a foam.

In the typical trigger sprayer described above, the nozzle assembly capcan be easily rotated away from its off position relative to the nozzleassembly base. With the nozzle cap moved from the off position, theliquid contents of the bottle attached to the trigger sprayer can bedispensed by manually manipulating the trigger on the sprayer housing.However, movement of the nozzle cap away from the off position alsocreates a condition where leakage of the liquid from the bottle throughthe trigger sprayer can occur if the trigger sprayer and bottle arepositioned on their sides or inverted. This creates a dangeroussituation where a child could get hold of and invert the trigger sprayerand bottle, where the leaked liquid contents of the bottle could beingested by the child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The trigger sprayer with the child resistant indexing nozzle assembly ofthe present invention overcomes disadvantages associated with prior arttrigger sprayers by providing a child resistant feature on the nozzleassembly. The child resistant feature prevents the nozzle cap from beingrotated relative to the nozzle base away from its closed positionwithout first disengaging the child resistant feature. One hand of theuser is needed to disengage the child resistant feature while the otherhand of the user rotates the nozzle cap away from its closed position,thus making it difficult for a child to move the nozzle cap from itsclosed position.

The child resistant indexing nozzle assembly of the invention can beused on a variety of different types of trigger sprayers. As anillustrated example, the indexing nozzle assembly of the invention isdescribed as being employed in a trigger sprayer having a constructionthat is similar to the constructions of prior art trigger sprayers.

The trigger sprayer of the invention has a sprayer housing constructionthat includes an integral cap that attaches to the neck of a separatebottle that contains the liquid to be dispensed by the trigger sprayer.A liquid inlet opening is provided on the sprayer housing inside thecap, and a liquid supply passage extends upwardly through the sprayerhousing from the liquid inlet opening.

The sprayer housing also includes a pump chamber having a cylindricalpump chamber wall. The pump chamber communicates with the liquid supplypassage.

A liquid discharge passage extends through a liquid discharge tube onthe sprayer housing. The liquid discharge passage communicates the pumpchamber with a liquid outlet opening on the sprayer housing.

A valve assembly is inserted into the liquid supply passage andseparates the liquid supply passage from the liquid discharge passage.The valve assembly includes an input valve that controls the flow ofliquid from the sprayer housing inlet opening to the pump chamber, andan output valve that controls the flow of liquid from the pump chamberand through the liquid discharge passage to the liquid outlet opening.

A valve plug assembly is assembled into the liquid supply passage of thesprayer housing. The valve plug assembly includes a valve seat thatseats against the input valve, and a vent baffle that defines a vent airflow path through the pump chamber to the interior of the bottleattached to the trigger sprayer.

A piston assembly is mounted in the pump chamber for reciprocatingmovements between charge and discharge positions of the piston assemblyrelative to the sprayer housing. The piston assembly includes a pumppiston and a vent piston, both mounted in the pump chamber. As the pumppiston moves to its charge position, the vent piston is moved to aclosed position where a venting air flow path through the pump chamberand through the venting air baffle is closed. As the pump piston ismoved to its discharge position, the vent piston is moved to an openposition in the pump chamber. This opens the venting air flow paththrough the pump chamber and the venting air baffle to the interiorvolume of the bottle attached to the trigger sprayer.

A manually operated trigger is mounted on the sprayer housing forpivoting movement. The trigger is engaged by the fingers of a user'shand holding the trigger sprayer. Squeezing the trigger causes thetrigger to move toward the pump chamber, and releasing the squeezingforce on the trigger allows the trigger to move away from the pumpchamber.

A piston rod is operatively connected between the trigger and the pumppiston. The piston rod has a length with opposite first and second ends,with the first end engaging with the trigger and the second end beingconnected to the pump piston.

A pair of springs are formed integrally with the piston rod and acircular collar or ring. The pair of springs each have a length withopposite proximal and distal ends. The length of each spring is bent inan inverted U-shaped configuration. The proximal end of each spring isconnected to the piston rod at the piston rod first end. From theproximal ends of the springs, the springs extend away from the pistonrod and bend in an inverted U-shaped bend over the exterior of the pumpchamber wall. The spring lengths end at distal ends of the springs thatare connected integrally with the circular collar or ring. The ring isattached around a forward end of the pump chamber wall outside the pumpchamber. The ring thereby connects the spring distal ends to the sprayerhousing.

The indexing nozzle assembly of the invention is mounted to the triggersprayer housing at the outlet opening. The nozzle assembly is basicallycomprised of a nozzle cap and a nozzle base having a lock mechanism. Thenozzle cap is mounted to the nozzle base for rotation of the cap on thebase about an axis of rotation. The lock mechanism is movable toward andaway from the axis of rotation between a locked position of themechanism relative to the base and an unlocked position of the mechanismrelative to the base.

The nozzle base has a liquid passage or liquid flow path thatcommunicates with the outlet opening and the liquid discharge passage ofthe sprayer housing. A liquid spinner and swirl chamber are provided onthe base in the liquid flow path.

The nozzle cap is mounted to the nozzle base for rotation of the capabout the axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is coaxial with theliquid spinner on the base. A liquid discharge orifice passes throughthe nozzle cap. The orifice has a center axis that is also coaxial withthe axis of rotation. The nozzle cap has a side wall with four sectionsthat surround the liquid discharge orifice. In the preferred embodiment,there is exterior indicia on each section that corresponds to an offposition, a spray position, a stream position, and a foam position ofthe nozzle cap on the base. A notch is provided in an interior surfaceof the nozzle cap side wall section that is opposite the “off” indiciaon the exterior surface of the section. The notch aligns with the lockmechanism on the nozzle base when the nozzle cap is in the off positionrelative to the base.

The lock mechanism includes a resilient spring that is connectedintegrally with the nozzle base. The spring extends from the nozzle basetoward the nozzle cap. A lock tab is positioned on the distal end of thespring to engage in the nozzle cap notch when the nozzle cap is in theoff position relative to the nozzle base. A finger pad projects from thespring between the nozzle base and the nozzle cap. The finger pad isaccessible from the exterior of the trigger sprayer. Depressing thefinger pad causes the lock tab to move toward the axis of rotation ofthe nozzle cap and out of the notch in the nozzle cap interior. Thisallows the nozzle cap to be rotated relative to the nozzle base. Withthe nozzle cap in the off position relative to the nozzle base,releasing the finger pad allows the resilience of the spring to move thelock tab back into the notch in the nozzle cap interior. The engagementof the lock tab in the nozzle cap lock prevents the nozzle cap frombeing rotated from the first position.

Thus, the child resistant indexing nozzle assembly of the inventionprovides a child resistant feature that requires the use of two hands tomove the nozzle cap away from the off position of the cap relative tothe nozzle base. The finger pad on the lock mechanism must first bedepressed by one hand of the user before the nozzle cap can be rotatedaway from the off position by the other hand of the user. The requiredtwo-hand operation of the indexing nozzle assembly is difficult for achild to operate, preventing a child from rotating the nozzle cap awayfrom the off position. Because a majority of the lock mechanismconstruction is shielded from view by either the nozzle cap or thetrigger sprayer shroud, the lock mechanism does not detract from theaesthetic appearance of the trigger sprayer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Further features of the invention are set forth in the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and inthe drawing figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side sectioned view of the trigger sprayer of the inventionwith the nozzle cap in the off position relative to the nozzle base andthe trigger sprayer housing;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disassembled component parts of thetrigger sprayer;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the child resistant indexingnozzle assembly removed from the trigger sprayer;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but with the nozzle cap disassembledfrom the nozzle base; and,

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the nozzle cap and nozzle base ofFIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As stated earlier, the trigger sprayer of the present invention isprovided with an indexing nozzle assembly having a novel child resistantfeature that can be employed on various different types of triggerssprayers and on various different types of indexing nozzle assemblies.The unique features of the indexing nozzle assembly, and in particularthe child resistant feature, can be incorporated into a variety ofdifferent types of handheld and hand-operated trigger sprayers having avariety of different types of indexing nozzle assemblies. For example,the child resistant feature could be used with an indexing nozzleassembly that is changed between an off condition, a spray condition, astream condition and a foam condition. Because the operation of theindexing nozzle assembly can provide a variety of different liquiddischarge conditions and does not require any particular trigger sprayerconstruction, the trigger sprayer and the indexing nozzle assemblyemploying the novel child resistant feature of the invention aredescribed only generally herein. It should be understood that althoughthe component parts of the trigger sprayer are shown in the drawingfigures and are described as having a certain construction herein, otherequivalent constructions of the component parts are known. These otherequivalent constructions of trigger sprayer component parts are equallywell suited for use with the novel child resistant feature of theinvention to be described.

The trigger sprayer includes a sprayer housing 12 that is formedintegrally with a connector cap 14. The connector cap 14 removablyattaches the trigger sprayer to the neck of a bottle containing theliquid to be dispensed by the trigger sprayer. The connector cap 14shown in the drawing figures has a bayonet-type connector on itsinterior. Other types of equivalent connectors may be employed inattaching the trigger sprayer to a bottle. A liquid inlet opening 16 isprovided on the sprayer housing 12 in the interior of the connector cap14. The inlet opening 16 provides access to a liquid supply passage 18that extends upwardly through a cylindrical liquid column 22 formed inthe sprayer housing 12. The column 22 has a center axis 24 that is alsothe center axis of the liquid supply passage 18. An air vent opening 26is also provided on the sprayer housing 12 in the interior of theconnector cap 14. A cylindrical sealing rim 28 projects outwardly fromthe connector cap interior and extends around the liquid inlet opening16 and the vent opening 26. The rim 28 engages inside the neck of abottle connected to the trigger sprayer to seal the connection.

The sprayer housing includes a pump chamber 32 contained inside acylindrical pump chamber wall 34 on the sprayer housing 12. The pumpchamber cylindrical wall 34 has a center axis 36 that is perpendicularto the liquid supply passage center axis 24. The interior surface of thepump chamber wall 34 has a smaller interior diameter section adjacent arear wall 38 of the pump chamber, and a larger interior diameter sectionadjacent an end opening 42 of the pump chamber. The smaller interiordiameter portion of the pump chamber 32 functions as the liquid pumpchamber, and the larger interior diameter portion of the pump chamber 32functions as a portion of a venting air flow path through the sprayerhousing 12. The vent opening 26 in the sprayer housing connector cap 14communicates the interior of the larger interior diameter portion of thepump chamber 32 with a bottle connected to the trigger sprayer. A pairof openings 46, 48 pass through the pump chamber rear wall 38 andcommunicate the interior of the pump chamber with the liquid supplypassage 18. The first of the openings 46 is the liquid input opening tothe pump chamber 32, and the second of the openings 48 is the liquidoutput opening from the pump chamber.

A liquid discharge tube 54 is also formed on the sprayer housing 12. Theliquid discharge tube is cylindrical and has a center axis 56 that isparallel with the pump chamber center axis 36. The liquid discharge tube54 defines the liquid discharge passage 58 of the sprayer housing. Oneend of the liquid discharge passage 58 communicates with the liquidsupply passage 18 in the liquid column 22, and the opposite end of theliquid discharge passage 58 exits the sprayer housing 12 through aliquid outlet opening 62 on the sprayer housing.

The sprayer housing 12 is also formed with a pair of exterior side wallsor side panels 64 that extend over opposite sides of the pump chamberwall 34 and over opposite sides of the discharge tube 54. The side walls64 extend over the pump chamber wall 34 in the area of the pump chamberrear wall 38, but do not extend in the forward direction the full extentof the pump chamber wall 34 to the end opening 42. The side walls 64 arespaced outwardly from the pump chamber wall 34 and the discharge tube 54forming voids 66 between the side wall 64 and the pump chamber wall 34and the discharge tube 54. The side walls 64 have lengths on theopposite sides of the liquid discharge tube 54 that extend substantiallythe entire length of the discharge tube. Rear walls 68 of the sprayerhousing 12 extend outwardly from opposite sides of the liquid column 22and connect to the rearward edges of the side walls 64.

A valve assembly comprising an intermediate plug 72, a resilient sleevevalve 74 and a resilient disk valve 76 is assembled into the liquidsupply passage 18. The valve assembly is inserted through the liquidinlet opening 16 and the valve assembly plug 72 seats tightly in theliquid supply passage 18 between the pump chamber input opening 46 andthe pump chamber output opening 48. Thus, the plug 72 separates theliquid inlet opening 46 into the pump chamber 32 from the liquid outletopening 48 from the pump chamber 32. The disk valve 76 is positioned inthe liquid supply passage 18 to control the flow of liquid from theliquid inlet opening 16 into the pump chamber 32, and to prevent thereverse flow of liquid. The sleeve valve 74 is positioned to control theflow of liquid from the pump chamber 32 and through the liquid dischargepassage 58 and the liquid outlet opening 62, and to prevent the reverseflow of liquid.

A valve plug assembly comprising a valve seat 78, a dip tube connector82, and an air vent baffle 84 is assembled into the liquid inlet opening16 inside the connector cap 14. The valve seat 78 is cylindrical andseats against the outer perimeter of the valve assembly disk valve 76. Ahollow interior bore of the valve seat 78 allows liquid to flow throughthe bore and unseat the disk valve 76 from the seat 78 as the liquidflows from the inlet opening 16 to the pump chamber 32. The periphery ofthe disk valve 76 seats against the valve seat 78 to prevent the reverseflow of liquid. The dip tube connector 82 is a cylindrical connector atthe center of the plug assembly that connects to a separate dip tube(not shown). The valve plug assembly positions the dip tube connector 82so that it is centered in the connector cap 14 of the sprayer housing.The air vent baffle 84 covers over but is spaced from the vent opening26 in the connector cap 14. The baffle 84 has a baffle opening 86 thatis not aligned with the vent opening 26, but communicates with the ventopening through the spacing between the air vent baffle 84 and theinterior surface of the connector cap 14. This allows air to passthrough the vent opening 26 and through the baffle spacing and thebaffle opening 86 to vent the interior of the bottle connected to thetrigger sprayer to the exterior environment of the sprayer. Because thevent opening 26 and baffle opening 86 are not directly aligned, the airvent baffle 84 prevents liquid in the bottle from inadvertently passingthrough the baffle opening 86, the baffle spacing and the vent opening26 to the exterior of the trigger sprayer should the trigger sprayer andbottle be inverted or positioned on their sides.

A piston assembly comprising a liquid pump piston 102 and a vent piston104 is mounted in the pump chamber 32 for reciprocating movement alongthe pump chamber axis 36. The pump piston 102 reciprocates between acharge position and a discharge position in the pump chamber 32. In thecharge position, the pump piston 102 moves in a forward direction awayfrom the pump chamber rear wall 38. This expands the interior of thepump chamber creating a vacuum in the chamber that draws liquid into thepump chamber, as is conventional. In the discharge position, the pumppiston 102 moves in an opposite rearward direction into the pump chambertoward the pump chamber rear wall 38. This compresses the liquid drawninto the pump chamber 32 and forces the liquid through the outputopening 48, past the sleeve valve 74 and through the liquid dischargepassage 58 and the liquid outlet opening 62. As the pump piston 102reciprocates in the pump chamber 32 between the charge and dischargepositions, the vent piston 104 reciprocates between a vent closedposition where the vent piston 102 engages against the interior surfaceof the pump chamber wall 34, and a vent open position where the ventpiston 104 is spaced inwardly from the interior of the pump chamber wall34. In the vent open position of the vent piston 104, air from theexterior environment of the sprayer can pass through the pump chamberopening 42, past the vent piston 104 to the vent opening 26, and thenthrough the spacing between the baffle 84 and the connector cap 14,through the vent baffle opening 86 and to the interior of the bottleconnected to the trigger sprayer.

A manually operated trigger 112 is mounted on the sprayer housing 12 formovement of the trigger relative to the sprayer housing. The trigger 112has a pair of pivot posts 114 that project from opposite sides of thetrigger and mount the trigger to the sprayer housing 12 for pivotingmovement. A pair of abutments 116 project outwardly from the pivot posts114 and limit the pivoting movement of the trigger 112 toward thesprayer housing 12. The construction of the trigger includes a fingerengagement surface that is engaged by the fingers of a user's hand.Squeezing the trigger causes the trigger to pivot rearwardly toward thepump chamber 32, and releasing the squeezing force on the trigger allowsthe trigger to pivot forwardly away from the pump chamber.

A piston rod 122 that is operatively connected between the trigger 112and the pump piston 102 and vent piston 104. The piston rod 122 has alength with a annular collar or ring 124 at one end of the rod length.The ring 124 is assembled to the liquid pump piston 102 and the ventpump piton 104 of the piston assembly. The opposite end 126 of thepiston rod 122 engages with and is operatively connected to the trigger112.

A pair of springs 132 are formed integrally with the piston rod 122. Thepair of springs 132 each have a narrow, elongate length that extendsbetween opposite proximal 134 and distal 136 ends of the springs. Theintermediate portions 138 of the springs between the proximal ends 134and distal ends 136 have the same bent or inverted U-shapedconfigurations. The spring proximal ends 134 are connected to the pistonrod 122 at the first end or forward end 126 of the piston rod. From theproximal ends 134, the lengths of the springs angle upwardly away fromthe piston rod 22 and the pump chamber center axis 36 and then extendthrough the intermediate portions 138 of the springs. As the lengths ofthe springs extend through their U-shaped intermediate portions 138, thesprings extend along opposite sides of the liquid discharge tube 154 andover the pump chamber wall 34. The springs then extend downwardly towardthe pump chamber center axis 36 as the springs extend to their distalends 136. The spring distal ends 136 are connected integrally to aspring ring 140. The ring 140 is attached around the pump chamber 32 atthe end opening 42 and thereby connects the spring distal ends 136 tothe sprayer housing 12.

The inverted, U-shaped configurations of the springs 132 bias the pistonrod 122 and the connected pump piston 102 and vent piston 104 outwardlyaway from the pump chamber rear wall 38. This biases the pump piston 102toward its charge position relative to the pump chamber 32 and thesprayer housing 12. By manually squeezing the trigger 112, the springproximal ends 134 move toward the spring distal ends 136, narrowing theU-shaped bend in the intermediate portions 138 of the springs. When thesqueezing force on the trigger 112 is removed, the resiliency of thesprings pushes the trigger 112 away from the pump chamber rear wall 38and moves the pump piston 102 back to its charge position relative tothe pump chamber 32.

A shroud 142 is attached over the exterior of the sprayer housing 12.The typical shroud 142 covers over the top, opposite sides and rear ofthe sprayer housing 12, giving the trigger sprayer an aestheticallypleasing appearance. The front of the shroud 142 is left open where theliquid outlet opening 62 and trigger 112 are accessible. As seen in FIG.1, a forward edge portion 144 of the shroud is positioned adjacent theliquid outlet opening 62. This forward portion 144 of the shroud extendsover the liquid discharge passage 58.

The child resistant indexing nozzle assembly 152 of the presentinvention is basically comprised of a nozzle base 154 and a nozzle cap156. Using only these two component parts of the nozzle assembly 152,the assembly not only provides the ability to change the dischargecondition of the liquid dispensed from the trigger sprayer, but alsoprovides a child resistant feature to the nozzle assembly. In FIGS. 1and 2, the nozzle base 154 is shown as a separate component part fromthe sprayer housing 12. In alternate embodiments of the invention, thenozzle base 154 could be an integral part of the sprayer housing 12,with the nozzle base 154 being integrally connected in communicationwith the liquid discharge tube 54.

The nozzle base 154 is constructed with a liquid inlet tube 158 at anupstream end of the liquid flow path through the base. The inlet tube158 is dimensioned so that an interior surface 162 of the tube isreceived in a tight friction fit over the liquid discharge tube 54 ofthe sprayer housing, communicating the liquid outlet opening 62 with theflow path through the base 154. The interior surface 162 of the inlettube 158 defines a portion of the liquid flow path through the nozzlebase 154. The opposite downstream end of the inlet tube 158 merges intoa center wall 164 of the base. At least one wall opening 166 extendsthrough the center wall and communicates the inlet tube 158 with theremainder of the liquid flow path through the nozzle base 154.

An attachment flange 168 projects outwardly from the nozzle base centerwall 164 from the same side of the wall as the inlet tube 158. Theattachment flange 168 is spaced radially outwardly from the inlet tube158 as shown in FIG. 1. A flange opening 172 passes through theattachment flange 168. The flange opening 172 is positioned to receive aprojection 174 on the sprayer housing 12 as the nozzle base inlet tube158 is positioned over the liquid discharge tube 54. The engagement ofthe projection 174 in the flange opening 172 securely holds the nozzlebase 154 on the sprayer housing 12.

A notch 178 is formed into the top of the nozzle base center wall 164 asviewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. The notch 178 is centered in the top edge ofthe center wall 164 relative to the inlet tube 158.

A liquid spinner shaft 182 projects in the downstream direction from theopposite side of the nozzle base center wall 164 from the inlet tube158. The spinner shaft 182 is constructed in the conventional manner ofindexing nozzle assemblies. The spinner shaft 182 is shown in thedrawing figures as having a swirl chamber 184 at the distal end of theshaft. It should be understood that the construction of the spinnershaft 182 and the swirl chamber 184 at the shaft distal end will changedepending on the desired liquid discharge pattern of the indexing nozzleassembly.

A cylindrical wall 186 projects in the downstream direction from thesame side of the nozzle base center wall 164 as the spinner shaft 182.The cylindrical wall 186 completely surrounds the spinner shaft 182 andis spaced radially outwardly from the spinner shaft. The spacing betweenthe spinner shaft 182 and the wall 186 defines a portion of the liquidflow path through the nozzle base 154.

The child resistant feature of the present invention is provided in theform of a lock mechanism that is an integral part of the nozzle base154. The lock mechanism includes an elongate spring 196 that is anintegral extension of the nozzle base attachment flange 168. The lengthof the spring 196 gives the spring a resilience that enables it to bebent inwardly toward the center axis 56 of the liquid discharge tube 54by exerting a force on the spring. The resilience of the spring allowsthe spring to return to its at-rest position relative to the sprayerhousing 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the external force on the springis removed. The length of the spring 196 extends parallel to the centeraxis 56 of the liquid discharge passage, through the notch 178 formed inthe nozzle base center wall 164 to a lock tab 198 at a distal end of thespring 196. As shown in the drawing figures, the spring 196 and lock tab198 have a general narrow rectangular configuration that projects or iscantilevered from the nozzle base attachment flange 168. A finger pad202 projects outwardly from between the spring length 196 and the locktab 198. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the finger pad 202 projectsoutwardly from the spring 196 and lock tab 198 to a position where it isaccessible from outside the forward edge portion 144 of the shroud 142.Thus, with the forward edge portion 144 of the shroud covering over thespring bar 196, the finger pad 202 is still accessible from the exteriorof the trigger sprayer to a user of the trigger sprayer.

The nozzle cap 156 has an exterior configuration with a general cubeshape defined by a front end wall 204 and four side walls 206. The fourcap side walls 206 have indicia that indicate the different conditionsof the nozzle assembly discharge when the cap is rotated to differentpositions on the nozzle base 154. One of the cap side walls is providedwith an “off” indicia. Another of the cap side walls is provided with a“spray” indicia. The indicia are shown in FIG. 2, and are examples ofthe indicia typically used on nozzle assemblies. The nozzle cap end wall204 has a cylindrical discharge orifice 208 that passes through the endwall. The orifice 208 has a center axis 212 that defines an axis ofrotation of the nozzle cap 156 on the nozzle base 154. As isconventional, the orifice 208 communicates the exterior environment ofthe trigger sprayer with the swirl chamber 184 in the distal end of thespinner shaft 182.

A coupling cylinder 214 is provided in the interior of the nozzle cap156. The coupling cylinder 214 engages over the exterior surface of thenozzle base cylindrical wall 186, thereby coupling the nozzle cap 156for rotation on the nozzle base 154. The nozzle cap 156 also has asealing cylinder 216 that engages in sliding, sealing contact over theinterior surface of the nozzle base cylindrical wall 186.

The nozzle cap 156 has been described only generally above. It should beunderstood that the nozzle cap 156 is only one example of a cap that maybe used with the child resistant feature of the invention. The nozzlecap 156 differs from prior art nozzle caps in that it is provided withthe child resistant feature of the invention.

The child resistant feature of the invention includes a notch 222 formedon an interior surface of one of the nozzle cap side walls 206. Thenotch 222 is formed on the interior surface of the side wall 206 havingthe “off” indicia. This side wall is positioned at the top of the nozzlecap 156 when the nozzle cap is moved to its off condition position, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring to FIG. 5, the notch 122 is formed bya pair of opposing lock surfaces 224. The spacing between the locksurfaces 224 that forms the notch 222 is dimensioned to receive the locktab 198 of the lock mechanism. In the position of the nozzle cap 156relative to the shroud 142 where the “off” indicia is positionedadjacent the forward edge portion 144 of the shroud, the construction ofthe nozzle cap 156 prevents the flow of liquid through the nozzle base154 and thereby prevents liquid discharge from the trigger sprayer. Inaddition, in this position of the nozzle cap 156 relative to the lockmechanism, the lock tab 198 engages in the notch 222 between the locksurfaces 224, preventing the nozzle cap 156 from being rotated on thenozzle base 154. To discharge liquid from the trigger sprayer, thenozzle cap 156 must be rotated away from the position of the cap shownin FIGS. 1 and 2. This requires disengaging the child resistant featureof the invention.

To disengage the child resistant feature of the indexing nozzleassembly, the user of the trigger sprayer must first engage the fingerpad 202 with the finger of one hand and press the finger pad in thedirection toward the center axis 56 of the liquid discharge tube 152 asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This causes the lock tab 198 to move out of thenotch 222 formed by the opposing lock surfaces 224 of the nozzle cap156. With the lock tab 198 moved out of the nozzle cap notch 222, theuser of the trigger sprayer can now rotate the nozzle cap 156 away fromits off condition position to any of the other positions of the nozzlecap relative to the nozzle base 154 where the cap permits the dischargeof liquid through the indexing nozzle assembly. When the use of thetrigger sprayer is complete, the user then rotates the nozzle cap 156 tothe off condition position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This will cause oneof the two cam surfaces 226 adjacent the lock surfaces 224 of the nozzlecap 156 to cam over the lock tab, deflecting the spring 196 toward theliquid discharge tube 54 of the trigger sprayer. This allows the locktab 198 to move back into the notch 22 formed by the nozzle cap locksurfaces 224. The resilience of the spring 196 moves the lock tab 198back into the notch 222 when the lock tab is aligned with the notch.This again locks the nozzle cap 156 to the nozzle base 154 preventingrotation of the cap relative to the base, and preventing liquiddischarge through the indexing nozzle assembly.

Thus, the indexing nozzle assembly provides a lock mechanism that mustbe disengaged by using two hands, thereby providing a child resistantfeature to the indexing nozzle assembly of the invention.

Although the trigger sprayer of the invention has been described aboveby reference to a specific embodiment, it should be understood thatmodifications and variations could be made to the trigger sprayerwithout departing from the intended scope of the following claims.

1. A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising: a nozzle base on thetrigger sprayer having a liquid flow path through the nozzle base thatdirects liquid from the trigger sprayer on operation of the triggersprayer; a nozzle cap mounted on the nozzle base for rotation of thenozzle cap between a first position and a second position of the nozzlecap relative to the nozzle base, the nozzle cap having an orifice thatdoes not communicate with the nozzle base liquid flow path in the firstposition of the nozzle cap and does communicate with the nozzle baseliquid flow path in the second position of the nozzle cap, the orificehaving a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial andradial directions relative to the nozzle cap, the nozzle cap having apair of opposing surfaces defining a notch between the pair of opposingsurfaces; and, a resilient spring having an elongate length extendingaxially from the nozzle base to a lock tab on a distal end of the springfrom the nozzle base, the spring being in an at-rest position when noexternal force acts on the spring, the lock tab being positioned in thenozzle cap notch preventing rotation of the nozzle cap when the nozzlecap is in the first position and the spring is in the at-rest position,and the spring being bendable toward the orifice center axis in responseto a radially directed external force acting on the spring to move thelock tab radially out of the notch and enable rotation of the nozzle capfrom the first position to the second position.
 2. The trigger sprayerof claim 1, further comprising: the spring having a resilience thatbiases the spring to the at-rest position when no external force isacting on the spring.
 3. The trigger sprayer of claim 2, furthercomprising: a finger pad on the spring projecting radially from betweenthe spring length and the lock tab.
 4. The trigger sprayer of claim 2,further comprising: a finger pad on the spring projecting radially froma side of the spring that is opposite the orifice center axis.
 5. Thetrigger sprayer of claim 2, further comprising: the spring length beingan integral extension from the nozzle base.
 6. The trigger sprayer ofclaim 1, further comprising: a sprayer housing containing a pump chamberand a liquid discharge tube communicating with the pump chamber; and,the nozzle base being separate from the sprayer housing, the nozzle basehaving a liquid inlet tube that is assembled to the liquid dischargetube of the sprayer housing.
 7. The trigger sprayer of claim 1, furthercomprising: a shroud on the trigger sprayer, the shroud having a forwardedge portion that covers over the spring length.
 8. The trigger sprayerof claim 7, further comprising: a finger pad on the spring projectingfrom the spring between the nozzle cap and the shroud forward edgeportion.
 9. A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising: a sprayerhousing containing a pump chamber and a liquid discharge passagecommunicating with the pump chamber, the liquid discharge passage havinga center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radialdirections relative to the sprayer housing; a nozzle base on the sprayerhousing, the nozzle base having a liquid flow path through the nozzlebase that communicates with the liquid discharge passage; a nozzle capmounted on the nozzle base for rotation of the nozzle cap between afirst position and a second position of the nozzle cap relative to thenozzle base, the nozzle cap having an orifice that does not communicatewith the nozzle base liquid flow path in the first position of thenozzle cap and does communicate with the nozzle base liquid flow path inthe second position of the nozzle cap, the orifice having a center axisthat is parallel with the liquid discharge passage center axis, thenozzle cap having a pair of opposing surfaces that define a notch in thenozzle cap; and, a resilient spring extending from the nozzle base, thespring having an elongate length that extends along the axial directionof the liquid discharge passage center axis to a lock tab on a distalend of the spring, the spring being in an at-rest position of the springwhen no external force acts on the spring and where the lock tab ispositioned in the nozzle cap notch with the nozzle cap in the firstposition where the lock tab prevents the nozzle cap from being movedfrom the first position, and the spring being movable from the at-restposition by an external force acting of the spring where the lock tab ismoved out of the nozzle cap notch enabling the nozzle cap to be movedfrom the first position to the second position.
 10. The trigger sprayerof claim 9, further comprising: the spring being movable from theat-rest position against a resilient bias of the spring in response toan external force acting on the spring, and the spring resilient biasreturning the spring to the at-rest position when no external for isacting on the spring.
 11. The trigger sprayer of claim 10, furthercomprising: a finger pad projecting from the spring and being positionedon the spring between the lock tab and the nozzle base.
 12. The triggersprayer of claim 9, further comprising: a shroud mounted on the sprayerhousing, the shroud covering over the spring length.
 13. The triggersprayer of claim 12, further comprising: a finger pad on the springprojecting from the spring between the nozzle cap and the shroud. 14.The trigger sprayer of claim 9, further comprising: the spring lengthbeing integral with and cantilevered from the nozzle base.
 15. Thetrigger sprayer of claim 9, further comprising: the nozzle base beingseparate from the sprayer housing and being assembled to the sprayerhousing.
 16. A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising: a nozzlebase on the trigger sprayer, the nozzle base having a liquid flow paththrough the nozzle base that directs liquid from the trigger sprayer onoperation of the trigger sprayer; a nozzle cap mounted on the nozzlebase for rotation of the nozzle cap between a first position and asecond position of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base, thenozzle cap having an orifice that does not communicate with the nozzlebase liquid flow path in the first position of the nozzle cap and doescommunicate with the nozzle base liquid flow path in the second positionof the nozzle cap, the orifice having a center axis that definesmutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to thenozzle cap and the nozzle base, the nozzle cap having a notch in thenozzle cap; and, a resilient spring on the nozzle base, the springhaving an elongate length with opposite proximal and distal ends, thespring length extending axially from the spring proximal end to a fingerpad on the spring that projects radially from the spring, and the springlength extending axially from the finger pad to a lock tab on the distalend of the spring, the spring length extending from the nozzle base tothe lock tab positioned in the nozzle cap notch when the nozzle cap isin the first position and no external force is acting of the spring, thelock tab positioned in the nozzle cap notch preventing rotation of thenozzle cap from the first position to the second position, and thespring being movable by an external force acting on the finger pad wherethe lock tab is moved out of the nozzle cap notch enabling the nozzlecap to be moved from the first position to the second position.
 17. Thetrigger sprayer of claim 16, further comprising: the spring having aresilience that biases the spring into the nozzle cap notch when thenozzle cap is in the first position and no external force is acting onthe finger pad.
 18. The trigger sprayer of claim 17, further comprising:the spring being an integral extension of the nozzle base.
 19. Thetrigger sprayer of claim 17, further comprising: a sprayer housingcontaining a pump chamber and a liquid discharge tube communicating withthe pump chamber; and, the nozzle base being separate from the sprayerhousing, the nozzle base having a liquid inlet tube that is assembled tothe liquid discharge tube of the sprayer housing.
 20. The triggersprayer of claim 19, further comprising: a shroud on the triggersprayer, the shroud having a forward edge portion that covers over thespring length.
 21. The trigger sprayer of claim 20, further comprising:the finger pad projecting from the spring between the nozzle cap and theshroud forward edge position.
 22. A manually operated trigger sprayercomprising: a sprayer housing containing a pump chamber and a liquiddischarge passage communicating with the pump chamber; a nozzle base onthe sprayer housing, the nozzle base having a liquid flow path throughthe nozzle base that communicates with the liquid discharge passage; anozzle cap mounted on the nozzle base for rotation of the nozzle capbetween a first position and a second position of the nozzle caprelative to the nozzle base, the nozzle cap having an orifice that doesnot communicate with the nozzle base liquid flow path in the firstposition of the nozzle cap and does communicate with the nozzle baseliquid flow path in the second position of the nozzle cap, the nozzlecap having a lock surface on the nozzle cap; a resilient spring on thenozzle base, the spring having an elongate length that extends from thenozzle base to a lock tab on a distal end of the spring, the springlength extending from the nozzle base to the lock tab positionedadjacent the nozzle cap lock surface when the nozzle cap is in the firstposition and no external force is acting on the spring, the lock tabpositioned adjacent the nozzle cap lock surface prevention rotation ofthe nozzle cap from the first position to the second position, and thespring being movable by an external force acting of the spring where thelock tab is moved away from the nozzle cap lock surface enabling thenozzle cap to be moved from the first position to the second position;and, a shroud on the sprayer housing, the shroud having a front edgeportion extending over the spring length and concealing the springlength from view.
 23. The trigger sprayer of claim 22, furthercomprising: the nozzle cap extending over the spring lock tab andconcealing the lock tab from view.
 24. The trigger sprayer of claim 23,further comprising: a finger pad on the spring projecting outwardly fromthe spring between the nozzle cap and the shroud forward edge portion.25. The trigger sprayer of claim 24, further comprising: the springlength extending from the nozzle base to the finger pad, and from thefinger pad to the lock tab projecting from the finger pad.
 26. Thetrigger sprayer of claim 26, further comprising: the nozzle base beingseparate from the sprayer housing and being assembled to the sprayerhousing.